They’re making a million
Top seven wage earners at the council revealed
South Lanarkshire Council’s seven top earners were paid almost £1million between them last year.
When pension contributions are included, the group – including former chief executive Lindsay Freeland – pocketed £1,095,328 between them in 2018-19.
All but one of the seven saw their pay increase, while six of the executives who were paid more than £100,000 were men.
The figures were released by the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
The council has defended the figures, pointing to its recent Best Value Assurance report by the Accounts Commission, which highlighted the council’s “effective leadership” and “sound financial management”.
Mr Freeland was the council’s highest earner after he was paid £162,383 last year – almost £10,000 more than former Prime Minister Theresa May’s £152,819 salary.
Mr Freeland also received more than £30,000 in pension contributions.
Finance director Paul Manning was the second-highest earner after he picked up a total pay packet of £163,510, including pension contributions of £26,452.
Housing director Daniel Lowe, community and enterprise director Michael McGlynn and health and social care director Val de Souza all received £131,635 plus £25,405 in pension contributions.
The other two officials to earn more than £100,000 when pension contributions are included were education director Tony McDaid (£129,833 plus £25,058) and chief social work officer Liam Purdie (£94,417 plus £18,223).
A council spokesman said: “The salaries paid to senior council staff are in line with their terms and conditions of employment and these figures are published every year in our annual accounts.
“The Accounts Commission recently published a Best Value Assurance Report that noted that the council benefits from effective leadership and has sound financial management.
“It is worth noting that the Taxpayers’ Alliance is a private company that refuses to disclose its own financial arrangements.”